Billions worth of fake goods seized in Bulacan

Posted: 2017-Jun-19 20.00.04 UTC+0800

MANILA — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Saturday has seized an estimated billions of pesos worth of assorted counterfeit products in Guiguinto, Bulacan.

Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon with agents of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) inspected the warehouses inside the Richard Isagani Sandy (RIS) 5 Industrial Complex located in Tabe, Guiguinto, early morning of June 17.

Found inside the store houses owned by a certain William, Isagani and Sandy, whose surnames were unknown, were several kinds of locally manufactured counterfeit items such as candies, lubricants, cigarettes, motor oils, used clothes, medicines, insect repellent, deodorant, among others.

Authorities also found imported manufacturing machines and equipment.

On the other hand, representatives from the Intellectual Property Manila Associates - Brand Protection Specialist said based on the samples obtained they confirmed that the items consists of fake products of genuine brands as Palmolive, Dove, Sunsilk, Creamsilk, Johnsons, Safeguard, Cetaphil, Gucci shoes, Marlboro, among others.

The owners of the warehouses were given 15 days to present import permit and other necessary documents or the the BOC will be issuing a Warrant of Seizure and Detention for such products.

Counterfeit goods are classified as prohibited under the Republic Act No. 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

"This relentless effort of the Bureau of Customs to supress the proliferation of fake products aims to protect the consumers, local manufacturers and the public at large," Faeldon said. (PNA)